Traffic signal for vehicles



June 24, 1924. 4 1,499,170

J. T. GLASS TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed March 11, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet 1 :lllm,

Ji /ass June 24, 19240 J. T. GLASS TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES FiledMarch 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheen 2 f /////J%/////////// ///U Patented June241, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN T. GLASS, or cnn'raarra, WASHINGTON.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FO'R VEHICLES.

Application filed March 11, 1922. Serial No. 542,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. GLAss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gentralia, in the county of Lewisand State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Traflic Signalfor Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. b

This invention relates to a traflicsignal for vehicles. I

It is generally aimed to provide a construction which will preventvibration and relative movement of the parts thereof tov the minimum,which maybe made in fewer and more substantial parts than is at presentthe case, one in which .the parts may be readily adjusted or removed forinspection, cleaning or repair, and one inwhich the cost of constructionis reduced ,as well as the liability of the parts to get out of order.

Another object is to provide aconstruction which may employ severalparts, particularly castings, to serve one as thesignal proper andone asthe lamp housing.

I further aim to provide a signal operable by means of an electro-magnetand in con nection therewith to provide a meanscoopcrating with its coreto vary the throw of the signal and also to provide a clamp attachableto the signal with a connection from the clamp to the said core in thenature of a yieldable spring and inconnection with r a return spring forthe signal attachable to a mounting bracket for the magnet and to saidclamp. r It is still further aimed to provide a novel construction ofmounting bracket for the signal and means to form a bearing. for itsmovable parts and a means to support the electromagnet and associatedparts.

Additionalobjects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection withaccompanying 'drawings-illus-o trating one practical embodiment; In saiddrawings r Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved traflic signal,showing the signal frame in anelevated orsignal position Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectional view through the signaltaken centrally of thebearing tube and electromagnet; r Y

Figure 3 is an end elevation looking tovehicle.

ward the magnet with the signal frame in full lines in a normal positionand in dotted lines in an elevated position; 7 Figure 4 is a plan view;Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1lookingtoward the electro-magnet and taken intermediate the same and asignal frame, and

Figure 6 is an electric diagram showing the parts in circuit. I

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts in thedilferent views.

In reducing the invention to practice, a

suitable bracketis provided having a body or, main portion at 10 and alaterally extending attaching wing 11, integral therewith.

In cooperation with the wing 11 is a fastening plate 12 secured to wing11 by adjustable bolts at 13. The free edge portions of wing 11 andattaching plate l2m'ay be U-shziped as at 14 so that such parts willcoact to form a clamp in order to attach the apparatusto a suitable partof anautomobile or other Disposed transversely through a suitableopening in the body 10 is a stationary bearing 14 in'the form of atubular shaft. A"

clamp plate 15 surrounds the bearing and is bolted or otherwise fastenedas at 16 to the wing 11 in order to rigidlymaintain the bearing inplace. 1

To the free end ofthe bearing 14 a lamp housing or frame 17, of anysuitable shape, is secured. 'This housing may have a collar 18 todirectly surround the bearing 14 and be secured against displacement bya binding set screw or the like 19 passing through the collar andengaging the bearing; Lamp housing 17 is particularly a constructionwhich may be cast or otherwise provided in asinglepiece. It may beappropriately adjusted longitudinally of the bearing 14 throughappropriate manipulation. of the binding screw19. 1

The upstanding sides of the lamp housing are open as shown and coveredby panels at 20 which may be of glassfor instance and xrendered opaquefor the most part but provided with transparent arrow shaped portions orsignals at 21. Oneof these arrows 21 may be viewed from one side and theother from the other side of the lamp housing,- as will be understood. IThe panels 20 are placed directly againstthe sideedges of the housing 17and secured thereto by de t ab e tra nee having fl g s 23 to overlap theends of the housing and securing flanges 24 to overlap the top andbottom walls of the housing. or other .fastening means 25 may passthrough the flanges 24 and into the housing. Thus a detachable frame ormeans enabling removal of the lenses for cleaning, replacement orotherwise is provided.

ttention is called to the fact that the panels 20 may be of appropriatecolors according to local traffic regulations and that the opaquenessfor the panels may be provided by mats or sheets at 26 having openingscut therein to conform in shape tothe arrows at 21.

Cooperating with the lamp housing 17 is a signal member generallydesignated 27. This member has a frame, generally rectangular at 28provided with a ring or hub at 29 which surrounds a tube 30 journaled onthe bearing 14 intermediate the collar 18 of the body 10. Frame 28 maybe adjusted along the tube 30 and rigidly fastened thereto by means of aset screw 31 passing i which has its upper end secured to the split.

tion is called to the through the hub 29 and binding against tube 30; 7

A suitable signal which may be an arrow at 32 is provided on the frame28. Attenfact that the frame 28, hub 29 and arrow 32 form a single pieceand may be provided in a single casting, whereby separate parts areavoided which wouldrvibrate and tend to loosen in actual practice. V

The frame 28 and arrow 32 are normally disposed in a horizontalposition.To this end a contractile spring is provided at 33 secured by a bolt orthe like at 34 fastened to a base flange integral with and extendingfrom the body 10 at 35. The bolt directly passes through a sleeve ofinsulation at 36. Through the adjustment of the bolt, thetension of thespring v33 may be regulated. Sur rounding the spring 33 is a split clamp37 having its terminals secured together by an adjustable bolt 38.Suitable insulation at 39 is interposed between the clamp 37 and tube30. The other terminal of said spring 33 is fastened to the bolt 38. Theurgency of said spring 33 is the medium for maintaining the signal andframe in and urging it to the said horizontal position.

Mounted onand suitably insulated from the base flange 35, is anelectromagnet at 40, which may be secured in place by a clamp at 41bolted or otherwise fastened at 42 to the body 10. This electromagnetmay be of the solenoid type and thus provided,

with a slidable core or plunger at 43. Suitably secured tothe plunger23, as by a rivet or bolt at 34 is a resilient'or spring strip 45 clamp37 by its bolt 38. v

The lamp housing 17 is adapted to be illuminated in any suitable mannerand pref- Detachable set screws employed.

extending from said utilized as the source of current for the electime,it is undertric parts. At the same stood that any other suitable sourcemay be 7 From the battery, a conductor 49 leads to the winding 50 of theelectromagnet 40 and thence to the lamp at 46, thence back to thebattery, having suitably located therein, a switch 51. It will berealized that the switch 51 may be of any approved type and arrangedforactuation in any desired manner 'or at any appropriate location.

Through the closing of the switch, the electromagnet 40 may be energizedsimultaneously with the lamp at 46.

In use, the apparatus may be applied at any suitable location on theautomobile and when desired, more than one may be used. When a signal isto be given, according to traflic regulations, switch 51 is closed whichimmediately illuminates the lamp 46 and en ergizes the electromagnet 40.As a result, the core or plunger 43 is drawn inwardly, moving with itthe strip 45 and causing the tube 30 to rotate on the bearing 14 andmove with it the frame 28 and arrow 32'to an up- 7 standing or signalposition. switch 51 is open, the spring 33, which has been tensionedthrough the raising of the arrow 32, will restore the parts to ahorizontal or normal position.

, Integral with the frame 28 and disposed to project through the openingthereof at the junction with the hub 29 are stop lugs 52 and 53.Projecting from the hub 29 is a stop lug 54. Spring 33 draws the partsinto such relation that said lug 52 engages the lug 54 so that movementof the frame and arrow 32 to a horizontal position maybe limited.

' It will be noted that the tube and bearing 14 may have the conductor49 passed therethrough for connection to the socket 37, without dangerof severance through relative movement oftheparts.

one practicalembodiment has 7 be resorted toprovided theyfall within thespirit and scope of the invention. I claim as HlYlIlVBIltlOIlZ- 'Whenthe i 1. A signal having a lamphousing pro- '7 vided with an attachingcollar, astop lug collar, a signal frame extending about the housing andhaving a stop lug cooperating with said lug to limit movement of theframe to normal position.

2. A signal having a lamp housing provided with an attaching collar, astop lug extending from said collar, a signal frame extending about thehousing and having a stop lug cooperating With said lug to limitmovement of the frame to normal position, a hub on said frame adjacentits lug, supporting means engaged by said collar, and an actuating tubeournaled on said supporting means, and said hub being secured to saidtube.

3. A signal having a bearing arm, a bracket having a body portionthrough Which said bearing arm passes, a Wing ex tending angularly fromsaid body portion,

means coacting With said Wing to form an attaching clamp, a base flangeextending angularly from the body portion, a solenoid JOHN T. GLASS.Witnesses:

CHAs O. NELSON, FRED RADIKA.

